2. Burlescombe to Newton Abbot-12.07.80

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-1980 > 7. Devon Roadtour-11-13.07.80 > 2. Burlescombe to Newton Abbot-12.07.80

A day spoilt by indifferent weather and UAM's (the orange Mini) failure near Newton Abbot caused by a split bypass hose. After striking camp at Burlescombe, we made our way, following the railway, to Exeter and then on to Newton Abbot but avoiding the famous coastal stretch. After dropping off David at Newton Abbot station to make his way home, Graham and I found a camping spot on the western flank of Daignton bank near to Totnes. Later in the evening, we returned to Newton Abbot for chips and then time exposures at the station.

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Images 1-16 of 16 displayed.

50013, 06.35 Bristol Temple Meads-Plymouth (1B16), Burlescombe ST071168
50013 'Agincourt' sweeps around a curve on the descent from Whiteball passing Burlescombe. It is leading the 1B16 06.35 Bristol Temple Meads to Plymouth service that was always a pretty good bet to be hauled by a Class 50. Proudly wearing its new headlight indicated that 'Agincourt' had undergone refurbishment (even though some members of the class emerged with plated holes due to supply issues of the component). 'Agincourt' was the sixth member of the class to emerge from Doncaster just over a month previously to this photograph being taken.
Keywords: 50013 06.35 Bristol Temple Meads-Plymouth 1B16 Burlescombe ST071168 Agincourt

50041, 06.50 Plymouth-London Paddington, Burlescombe ST071168
On such a dull morning taking photographs on the Zenith camera (that I had started to re-use again) was a difficult proposition with its slow lens and poor maximum shutter speed. However, this photograph showing 50041 'Bulwark' leading the 06.50 Plymouth to Paddington is interesting in that it shows our camping spot as can be witnessed by UAM the orange Mini. This spot is near the village of Burlescombe with the track to the right where we were camping being the course of the former Burlescombe Tramway that linked the mainline with Westleigh Quarry a short distance to the north.
Keywords: 50041 Bulwark 06.50 Plymouth-London Paddington, Burlescombe ST071168

31279, 06.35 Plymouth-Old Oak Common empty vans (5A06), Burlescombe ST071168
The daily 5A06 06.35 Plymouth to Old Oak Common empty newspaper vans climbs Whiteball bank with 31279 doing all the work. The train is seen approaching Burlescombe and is taken from the spot, behind a gate, off railway property I hasten to add, where we had just camped for the night! This particular train ran back to London following its down working throughout the night dropping vast numbers of Fleet Street's finest at various locations. This was back in the days when many more people used to buy a daily newspaper and when they were produced centrally rather than electronically with the printing devolved to the regions as is the case today.
Keywords: 31279 06.35 Plymouth-Old Oak Common empty vans 5A06 Burlescombe ST071168

47152, 08.15 Plymouth-Leeds (1E30), Burlescombe ST071168
47152 heads the 08.15 Plymouth to Leeds service on the climb to Whiteball tunnel at Burlescombe. It has just passed the Whiteball distant signal, a colour light, controlled by Whiteball signal box some mile and a half away. At this time 47152 was a Bristol Bath Road locomotive spending a lot of its life on the Western Region. It had spells in Scotland and the Midlands before becoming a Railfreight Distribution (and lately Freightliner) locomotive in 1990 with withdrawal and scrapping coming in May 2001.
Keywords: 47152 08.15 Plymouth-Leeds 1E30 Burlescombe ST071168

47225, 23.40 Glasgow-Plymouth (1V57), Tiverton Junction station
47225 takes the centre road through Tiverton Junction station leading, what I believe to be, the 1V57 23.40 Glasgow Central to Plymouth. Back in the pre-internet days establishing workings was down to the use of the 'bible' or the huge national timetable that was carried everywhere, viewing the stock and the locomotive and using a bit of common sense but lateness of a train would compromise the accuracy of the identification. Notice the front of Tiverton Junction signal box dominating the left-hand side of the photograph. 47225 is still in use today but now rebuilt and renumbered as 57307 'Lady Penelope', seen recently .......... https://www.ontheupfast.com/p/21936chg/29301193204/x57307-unidentified-working-0z99
Keywords: 47225 23.40 Glasgow-Plymouth 1V57 Tiverton Junction station

Tiverton Junction signal box (GW, 1932)
Tiverton Junction signal box is seen located on the western end of the up platform of the station of the same name. The box was a Great Western structure opened in 1932 when the lines through the station were quadrupled replacing an earlier box that I can find nothing out about - any information would be appreciated. Notice my new Sony TC-525 cassette recorder and foam wrapped Sony F-99A microphone on the platform. This was their first trip out to the lineside having just been purchased but, unfortunately, the recordings were for some reason deemed substandard and not kept according to my contemporary notes.
Keywords: Tiverton Junction signal box

50028, 07.30 London Paddington-Paignton (1B24), Tiverton Junction station
On a particularly dull July day, 50028 'Tiger' heads westwards at Tiverton Junction station leading the 1B24 07.30 Paddington to Paignton service. BR was in the throws of running down Tiverton Junction station providing it with a poor service pattern and doing very little to maintain it. Patronage was low, which can be witnessed by the empty station car park behind the down platform. The station was closed on 11.05.86 with the opening of Tiverton Parkway station.
Keywords: 50028 07.30 London Paddington-Paignton 1B24 Tiverton Junction station Tiger

SR sign, Exeter Central station
I photographed the impressive frontage at Exeter Central station a few weeks previously, see....... https://www.ontheupfast.com/p/21936chg/29441750204/frontage-exeter-central-station but on my return this time I photographed the former Southern Railway sign above the canopy. The office supplier Ham and Sewell are still in business today (2020) but trading from a shop in Plymouth's Armada Centre rather than from Exeter as here in 1980.
Keywords: SR sign Exeter Central station

Class 50, unidentified working, Newton Abbot station
A photograph that I can provide little information about! I have no record of the Class 50 or the working. This is unusual as I was pretty fastidious even as a sixteen year old about my railway record keeping! All I do know is that it is a picture recovered from the rejects' box and given a fair bit of Photoshop treatment to get it up to a presentable standard. The 50 is entering the station on the down main (the former platform two) passing the up home gantry controlled by the rarely photographed East signal box that is seen in the background. Notice that the dolls on the gantry are wooden probably dating from proper Great Western days as the later British Railways' replacement versions were grey steel. After nursing the Mini as far as Newton Abbot and dropping off David for his return journey to Bradford-on-Avon by train, Graham and I continued on alone keeping a very close eye on the car's temperature gauge!
Keywords: Class 50 unidentified working Newton Abbot station

46013, 14.02 Newquay-Birmingham New Street (1M31), Wrigwell bridge, Dainton
With three people undertaking some window leaning and enjoying the soundtrack of 46013 toiling up the western side of Dainton bank it approaches the summit about to pass under Wrigwell bridge. The Class 46 was leading the 14.02 Newquay to Birmingham New Street service that was composed entirely of Mk.I stock as were most of the Newquay services.
Keywords: 46013 14.02 Newquay-Birmingham New Street 1M31 Wrigwell bridge Dainton

Newton Abbot West signal box (GW, 1925)
I took a photograph of Newton Abbot West signal box from an identical spot a few weeks previously to this one, see......https://www.ontheupfast.com/p/21936chg/29422481604/newton-abbot-west-signal-box-great However, a time exposure adds a whole new level of atmosphere to a photograph and this one is no exception. Notice the colours of the signal glasses clearly seen to the right of the dolls sitting on top of the down home gantry.
Keywords: Newton Abbot West signal box Great Western

Newton Abbot West signal box (GW, 1925)
An alternative view of Newton Abbot West signal box taken at night. The box was constructed in 1925 by the Great Western when the station was extensively remodelled and expanded. The impressive down home gantry can be clearly seen behind the signal box. This scene is unrecognisable now with just three running lines remaining with everything in the foreground covered by a large car park.
Keywords: Newton Abbot West signal box Great Western

Up through & up main starters, Newton Abbot station
Viewed from the station car park the up through and main starters are seen. They are strangely located midway along the length of the station. Notice the unused doll, this used to contain arms that controlled a scissors crossover that had been removed some years previously.
Keywords: Up through up main starters Newton Abbot station Great Western

Ex GWR sign & clock, Newton Abbot station
High up on the walls in Newton Abbot station were two reminders of its heritage. A working ex GWR electronic clock and a rather nice sign are seen. Unfortunately, the image is a little out of focus caused no doubt by a little movement of the camera whilst on the tripod taking the time exposure. I wonder where these items are now? I sincerely hope that they were not merely confined to the skip.
Keywords: Ex GWR sign & clock, Newton Abbot station

Ex GWR commemorative plaque, Newton Abbot Station
A plaque commemorating the placing of the various station clocks back in 1927. I suspect that borough councils would not be expected to pay for the placing of clocks on stations these days when they are re-built as was Newton Abbot at this time!
Keywords: Ex GWR commemorative plaque, Newton Abbot Station

Frontage, Newton Abbot station
Dating from the mid-1920s the frontage of Newton Abbot station is seen in the darkness of a Saturday night. The rather crudely applied BR era canopy does not do a great deal for the aesthetics of the otherwise attractive building. The three cars parked in the foreground date the photograph: to the left a Citroën Dyane, then a Mk.1 VW Jetta that will be less than a year old and a much older Triumph 2000 Mk.I.
Keywords: Frontage Newton Abbot station

Images 1-16 of 16 displayed.